மணி மங்கலம் கல் வெட்டுகள்
N D Logasundaram
IV.- Inscriptions at Manimangalam
Manimangalamcontains three temples of Vishnu and two temples of Siva. The three former now bear the names Rajagopala-Perumal, Vaikuntha-Perumal[3] and Krishnasvamin, and the two latter are now called Dharmesvara and Kailasanathasvamin. I am publishing below fourteen inscriptions of the Rajagopala-Perumal temple (Nos. 27 to 40) and one of the Dharmesvara temple (No. 41). These records belong to the time of the Chola kings Rajakesarivarman (No. 27), Rajadhiraja (No. 28), Rajendra (No. 29), Virarajendra I. (No. 30), Kulottunga-Chola I. (Nos. 31 and 32), Vikrama-Chola (No. 33), Kulottunga-Chola II. (No. 34), Rajaraja II. (No. 35), Kulottunga-Chola III. (Nos. 36 and 37) and Rajaraja III. (Nos. 38 to 41).
In the Chola inscriptions the name of the village isManimangalam (Nos. 27, 28, 30 to 41) and, in Sanskrit verses, Ratnagrahara[4] (Nos. 27 and 40) or Ratnagrama (No. 27). In the time of rajakesarivarman it was surnamed Lokamahadevi-chaturvedimangalam (No. 27), n that of Rajadhiraja, Rajendra and Virarajendra I. Rajachulamani-chaturvedimangalam (Nos. 28 to 30), and in that of the remaining kings Pandiyanai-irumadi-ven-kanda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam[5] (Nos. 31 to 36 and 38). In three inscriptions of the 18thyear of Rajaraja III. We find the fresh surname Gramasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam (Nos. 39 to 41). The village was included in Jayankonda-Chola-mandalam[6] (Nos. 28 to 30, 32 to 39, and 41). Down to the time of Virarajendra I. it belonged to Maganur-nadu[7] (Nos. 28 to 30), a subdivision of the district of Sengattukottam[8] (Nos. 27 to 30). The later Chola inscriptions assign it to Kunrattur-nadu[9] (Nos. 31 to 39 and 41), a subdivision of the district of Puliyur-kottam[10] (Nos. 39 and 41), which was surnamed Kulottunga-Chola-valanadu (Nos. 31 to 36, 38, 39 and 41) after Kulottunga-Chola I.
The ancient name of the Rajagopala-Perumal temple was Srimad-Dvarapati (Nos. 28 to 30) or Srimad-Dvarapurideva (No. 27), i.e., ‘the lord of the prosperous city of Dvara,’ the residence of Krishna in Gujarat. The Tamil equivalent of Srimad-Dvarapati is Vanduvarapati (Nos. 31 and 33 to 39). Other names of the temple were Sri-Kamakkodi-Vinnagar[11] (No. 32) and Tiruvaykkulam (Nos. 33 and 36).
[1] No. 320 on the Madras Survey Map of the Conjeeveram taluka.
[2] See above, Vol. I. p. 144 f. and Vol. II. p. 363, note 1.
[3] The ancient name of this temple was Tiruvayappadi ; see below, p. 84, note 5.
[4] Ratna is synonymous with mani, the first portion of the name Manimangalam.
[5] I.e., ‘the Brahmana settlement (called after) the Chola who twice saw the back of (i.e., defeated) the Pandya.’ Instead of ven-kanda, two inscriptions (Nos. 31 and 38) read ven-konda, and two others (Nos. 33 and 35) men-konda.
[6] See above, p. 2 and note 3.
[7] Maganur was a hamlet on the west of Manimangalam ; see No. 27, text line 3, and No. 33, text line 21.
[8] Compare Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 6, note 4. Sengadu is a village in the Conjeeveram taluka (No. 250 on the Madras Survey Map).
[9] Kunrattur is probably the modern Kunnattur, No. 248 on the Madras Survey Map of the Saidapet taluka.
[10] Compare Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 8, note 1. Puliyur is a village close to Madras. No. 174 on the Madras Survey Map of the Saidapet taluka.
[11] On Vinnagar or Vinnagaram, ‘a Vishnu temple,’ see Ep. Ind. Vol. V. p. 47, note 4.
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This inscription is dated in the 6th year of the reign of the Chola king Rajakesarivarman[1] (1. 2). It opens with two Sanskrit verses, which state that a person whose name is not given made a grant to the Vishnu temple at Ratnagrahara or Ratnagrama, i.e., Manimangalam. From the following Tamil passage it appears that the donor had purchased the land from the inhabitants of Manimangalam. The grant consisted of 4,000 kuli of land, of which 2,000 were situated on the west of Manimangalam and south of Kulattur, the modern Kolattur.[2] The remaining 2,000 kuli were situated on the south of Manimangalam and east of Amanpakkam – the modern Ammanambakkam.[3]
In this archaic inscription the virama is marked above several letters by a dot (pulli), just as in the modern Tamil print. The Grantha na of pranasa (1. 1) is expressed by a compound letter which differs from the Tamil na.[4]
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity !
(Verse 1.) Resplendent is (the village) whose famous name is Ratnagrahara (and which is) an embodiment of the union of the two goddesses of learning and prosperity, able to remove distress, of lovely fame (and) an ocean of all gems – noble qualities.
(V. 2.) (He)[5] founded, for as long as the moon and the stars endure, a perpetual enjoyment (bhoga) of the god who resides in (the temple of) Srimad-Dvara in the agrahara of Ratnagrama.
(Line 2.) In the 6th year (of the reign) of king Rajakesarivarman, we, the great assembly ofManimangalam, alias Lokamahadevi-chaturvedimangalam, (in the district) of Sengattu-kottam, sold (the following) land to (the temple of) Srimad-Dvarapurideva in our village.
(L. 3.) Two thousand kuli, enclosed within the following four boundaries : - (The eastern boundary is) to the west of the boundary of Maganur, a hamlet on the west (of our village) ; (the southern boundary is) to the north of the bank of the Periyaputteri (tank) ; the western boundary (is) to the east of the Kalichchangal (channel) ;[6] and the northern boundary (is) to the south of the boundary of Kulattur.
(L. 4.) Two thousand kuli, below the Putteri (tank) at (?) Perur, a hamlet on the south (of our village), enclosed within the following four boundaries : - The eastern boundary (is) to the west of Kudumbidupadagam ; the southern boundary (is) to the north of the Mannikkal (channel) ; the western boundary (is) to the east of the boundary of Amanapa[kka]m ; and the northern boundary (is) to the east of the boundary of Amanpa[kka]m; and the northern boundary (is) to the east of the boundary of Amanapa[kka]m ; and the northern boundary (is) to the south of the bank of the tank.
(L. 7.) Altogether four thousand Kuli were given, for as long as the moon and the sun exist (and) free of taxes, by us, the great assembly.
(L. 8.) On this land we shall not be entitled to claim any taxes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . forced labour (vetti), vedi and kanam.[7]
(L. 9.) We, the great assembly, agree that each of those who claim (them) shall pay a fine[8] of twenty-five kalanju of gold.
(L. 10.) (This charity is placed under) the protection of the Sri-Vaishnavas.
No. 28.- On the north and west walls of the shrine in the Rajagopala-Perumal Temple
This inscription is dated in the 29th year of Rajakesarivarman, alias Rajadhirajadeva, surnamed Jayankonda-Chola (1. 7).[9] It opens with a panegyrical account of the king’s deeds. The text of this passage has been settled by comparison with the corresponding introductions of three other inscriptions, viz.,
1. Tk.- an inscription of the 29th year in the Svetaranyesvara temple at Tiruvenkadu in the Tanjore district (No. 114 of 1896).
2. Tr. = an inscription of the 31st year in the Adhipurisvara temple at Tiruvorriyur near Madras (No. 107 of 1892).
3. Tai. = an inscription of the 32nd year in the Panchanadesvara temple at Tiruvaiyaru near Tanjore (No. 221 of 1894)
Among the achievements of Rajadhiraja the subjoined inscription mentions that the “destroyed the palace of the Chalukya king in the city of Kampili” (1. 6). As I have said before,[10] this statement enables us to identify Rajadhiraja with the king who, according to the Kalingattu-Parani (viii. 26), “planted a pillar of victory at Kampili,” and to place his reign immediately after that of Rajendra-Chola I. and before that of Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendradeva. Rajendra-Chola I. ascended the throne in A.D. 1001-2 and reigned until at least A.D. 1032.[11] An inscription at Mindigal proves that Rajadhiraja’s anointment to the throne took place in A.D. 1018.[12] This would be about the 17th year of the reign of his predecessor Rajendra-Chola I. Consequently, Rajadhiraja appears to have been the co-regent of the latter and cannot have exercised independent royal functions before the death of the other. It is in perfect accordance with this conclusion that his inscriptions which have been discovered so far are all dated in the later years of his reign, viz., between the 26th and 32nd years.
The introduction of the subjoined inscription states that Rajadhiraja appointed seven of his relatives to be governors over the Chera, Chalukya, Pandya and Ganga countries, the island of Ceylon, the Pallava country, and Kanyakubja (1. 1). This statement is evidently exaggerated, at least as far as it refers to the Chalukya dominions and Kanyakubja.[13] Next are mentioned three Pandya kings (1. 1f.). The first of them, Manabharana, was decapitated ; the second, Vira-Kerala, was trampled down by an elephant ; and the third, Sudnara-Pandya, was expelled to Mullaiyur. Further, Rajadhiraja killed an unnamed king of Venadu, i.e., Travancore, and three princes of Iramagudam (?). Having routed the Chera king, he followed the example of his ancestor Rajaraja I. in destroying the ships at Kandalur-Salai[14] (1. 2f.)
Then followed a victorious war against Ahavamalla, Vikki, Vijayaditya and Sangamayan, which was led by a general named Kevudan, and in the course of which two of Ahavamallas’s officers, named Gandappayan and Gangadhara, were killed and the city of Kollippakkai[15] was set on fire (1. 3 f.). Kollippakkai or, in Kanarese, Kollipake was included in the territory of the Western Chalukyas,[16] and Ahavamalla, Vikki and Vijayaditya are identical with the Western Chalukya king Ahavamalla-Somesvara I. (A.D. 1044 and 1068) and two of his sons, Vikramaditya VI. (A.D. 1055 – 56 and 1076 to 1126) and Vishnuvardhana-Vijayaditya (A.D. 1064 to 1074).[17]
The next of Rajadhiraja’s expeditions cost their crowns to four kings of Ceylon, viz., Vikramabahu, Vikrama-Pandya, Vira-Salamegan, and Srivallabha Madanaraja (1. 4 f.). The second of these is said to have ruled over the southern Tamil country before taking possession of Ceylon, the third to have originally ruled over Kanyakubja, and the fourth to have taken refuge with a certain Krishna. Worst of all fared Vira-Salamegan. The Chola king seized his elder sister and his daughter (or wife)[18] and cut off the nose of his mother, and the Ceylon king himself fell in battle. An independent and somewhat different account of these struggles is given in the 56th chapter of the Mahavamsa[19] which mentions successively the reigns of Vikramabahu, who is supposed to have reigned from A.D. 1037 to 1049, Vikrama-Pandu (A.D. 1052 to 1053), Jagatipala (A.D. 1053 to 1057), and Parakrama-Pandu (A.D. 1057 to 1059). Of Jagatipala it is said that he came from the city of Ayodhya, that the Cholas slew him in battle, and that they carried his queen and his daughter to the Chola country. As the two first names Vikramabahu and Vikrama-Pandya, are the same in Rajadhiraja’s inscriptions and in the Mahavamsa, we may identify Jagatipala with Vira-Salamegan, who came from Kanyakubja, who was killed by the Cholas, and whose elder sister and daughter were carried away by them. It remains uncertain water whether he was a native of Kanyakubja (Kanauj) or Ayodhya, as stated respectively in Rajadhiraja’s inscriptions and in the Mahavamsa. The fourth king, Srivallabha[20] Madanaraja, is perhaps the same as the Parakrama-Pandu of the Mahavamsa, who is said to have been killed by the Cholas.
On a second raid to the north Rajadhiraja defeated four chiefs, whose names are given but whom I cannot identify, and destroyed the palace of the Chalukya king at Kampili (1. 5 f.), a place in the Hosapete taluka of the Bellary district, which is also mentioned in a Western Chalukya inscription.[21]
As I have stated before (p. 39 above), Rajadhiraja was the elder brother of his successor Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendradeva, and met with his death in the battle of Koppam. Hence I suspect that it is Rajadhiraja who is meant in a Western Chalukya inscription of A.D. 1071 at Annigere in the Dharwar district, which states that “the wicked Chola, who had abandoned the religious observances of his family, penetrated into the Belvola country and burned the Jaina temples which Ganga-Permadi, the lord of the Ganga-mandala, while governing the Belvola province, had built in the Annigere-nadu,” and that “the Chola eventually yielded his head to Somesvara I. in battle, and thus, losing his life, broke the succession of his family.”[22] “The record adds that the temples were subsequently restored by the MandalikeLakshmadeva.”[23]
According to Professor Kielhorn’s calculation,[24] the date of this inscription (1. 7 f.) corresponds to Wednesday, the 3rd December A.D. 1046. On this day the villagers made over to the temple 2,200 kuli of land and received in exchange 100 kasu from the temple treasury.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! While the goddess of the earth was beaming under his fringed white parasol, which resembled the moon in beauty, (the king) wedded the goddess of fortune, wielded the scepter, and destroyed the dark Kali (age).
(He) bestowed crowns of brilliant jewels, adorned with gold, on his father’s younger brother, (his) glorious elder brother, his distinguished younger brothers,[25] and his royal sons who knew the (right) path, (along with the titles) ‘Vanavan[26] of great beauty,’ ‘Vallavan,’[27] ‘Minavan,’[28] ‘Gangan,’ ‘the king of the people of Lanka,’ ‘Pallavan (who wears) golden ankle-rings,’ (and) ‘the protector of the people of Kannakuchchi (Kanyakubja),’ and granted to these (relatives) of great renown the dominions of those (hostile kings).[29]
Among the three allied kings of the South (i.e., Pandyas), - (he) cut off on a battle-field the beautiful head of Manabharanan, (which was adorned with) large jewels (and) which was inseparable from the golden crown ;[30] seized in a battle Vira-Keralan whose ankle-rings were wide,[31] and was pleased to get him trampled down by his furious elephant Attivarana ;[32] and drove to the ancient Mullaiyur Sundara-Pandiyan of endless great fame, who lost in a hot battle the royal white parasol, the bunches (of hairs) of the white yak and the throne, and who ran away, - his crown dropping down, (his) hair being disheveled, and (his) feet getting tired.
(L. 2.) (He) sent the undaunted king of Venadu to the country of heaven and destroyed in anger the three (princess) of the famous Iramgudam.
While the strong Villavan (i.e., Chera) was attacked by pains in the bowels, fled from his country and hid himself in the jungle, (the Chola king) destroyed (his) ships (at) Kandalur-Salai on the never decreasing ocean as (easily as he) would have put on a beautiful fresh flower of the vanji (tree).
(L. 3.) When even Ahavamallan became afraid ; when Gandappayan and Gangadharan, (who belonged) to his army, fell along with (their) elephants (whose temples) swarmed with bees, (in a battle) with the irresistible army of Kevudan ; (and) when the (two) warriors of great courage – Vikki and Vijayadityan, Sangamayan of great strength, and others retreated like cowards, - (the Chola king) seized (them) along with gold of great spleandour and with horses, elephants and steeds, achieved victory in his garment, and caused the centre of Kollippakkai, (a city) of the enemies, to be consumed by fire.
(L. 4.) With a single unequalled army (he) took the crown of Vikramabahu, the king of the people of Lanka on the tempestuous ocean ; the crown-of large jewels, (belonging to) the lord of Lanka, Vikrama-Pandiyan, who, having lost the whole of the southern Tamil country which had previously belonged to him, had entered Ilam (surrounded by) the seven oceans ; the beautiful golden crown of the king of Simhala, Vira-Salamegan, who, believing that Ilam (surrounded by) ocean was superior to the beautiful Kannakuchchi (Kanyakubja) which belonged to him, had entered (the island) with his relatives and (those of) his countrymen who were willing (to go with him), and had put on the brilliant crown ; who, having been defeated on the battle-field and having lost his black elephant, had fled ignominiously ; and who, when (the Chola king) seized his elder sister along with (his) daughter[33] and cut off the nose of (his) mother, had returned in order to remove the disgrace (caused) thereby, and, having fought hard with the sword, had perished in a hot battle ; and the extremely brilliant crown of large jewels, (belonging to) the king of Ilam, Srivallavan (Srivallabha)Madanarajan, who had come to Kannaran (Krishna) and taken up (his) abode (with him).
(L. 5.) Having led for the second time a warlike army into the northern region, (the Chola king) defeated in battle Gandar-Dinakaran,[34] Naranan (Narayana), Kanavadi (Ganapati), Madisudanan (Madusudana), (who wore) a garland of flowers (surrounded by) bees, and many other kings, and caused to be destroyed the palace of the Salukkiyar[35] in the city of Kampili, whose gardens diffuse fragrance.
(L. 6.) The tribute paid without remissions by the Villavar (Chera), Minavar (Pandya), Velakular,[36]Salukkiyar (Chalukya), Vallavar,[37] Kausalar (Kosala), Vanganar,[38] Konganar (Konkana), Sindurar,[39] Aiyanar, Singalar (Simhala), Pangalar,[40] Andirar (Andhra) and other kings, and the riches collected (as) the sixth share (of the produce) of the earth (he) had measured out, and gladly gave away, to those (versed in) the four Vedas (i.e., to the Brahmanas). In order to be famed in the whole world, (he) followed the path of Manu and performed the horse-sacrifice.
(L. 7.) In the 29th year (of the reign) of this king Rajakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Rajadhirajadeva, who was seated on the royal (throne and who had obtained) very great fame (under the name) Jayankonda-Solan, - we, the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Rajasulamani-chaturvedimangalam, in Maganur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Sengattu-kottam, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, being assembled, without a vacancy in the assembly,[41] in the Brahmasthana[42] in our village on the day of Sravana, which corresponded to a Wednesday and to the second tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Dhanus, ordered (as follows).
(L. 8.) Having received on interest one hundred kasu from the treasury (of the temple) of Srimad-Dvarapati, alias Sri-Kamakkodi-Vinnagar-Alvar in this village, (we) gave, against the interest accruing from these one hundred kasu, for (providing) the offerings and the expenses of the worship of this god, the following land as temple land, with the enjoyment of revenue and taxes,[43] (and) having exempted (it) from taxes. Three hundred kuli of cultivated land to the north of (the road called) Perunalvadi (and) to the east of the channel above the ‘Bignonia field’ (Padiri-kalani) ; two hundred kuli of cultivated land to the west of the channel in the middle of the ‘Bignonia field ;’ one hundred and eighty kuli of cultivated land to the south of the Perunalvadi (road) (and) to the east of the Manaiy-arudi channel of the temple garden at the Alaimedu (hill) ; two hundred kuli of cultivated land to theeast of this channel ; three hundred kuli of cultivated land to the east of the road to (the tank called) Sundileri ;[44] and two hundred kuli, equal to two tadi, to the north of the Pavaiturai challel (and) to the east of the two hundred and fifty kuli of land (of the temple) of Tiruvaiyottidevar ;[45] altogether we gave, having engraved (this) on stone, two thousand and two hundred kuli[46] of land (to) the god, with the enjoyment of revenue and taxes, to last as long as the moon and the sun, for (providing) the offerings and the expenses of the worship, having exempted (it) from taxes.
[1] See above, p. 2, note 4.
[2] The remaining 2,000 kuli were situated on the south of Manimangalam and east of Amanpakkam – the modern Ammanambakkam.
[3] No. 330 on the same map.
[4] Compare above, Vol. II. p. 200, note 1.
[5] The name of the donor is not stated.
[6] From this channel is probably derived the name of the modern village of Karisangal (No. 319 on the Madras Survey Map of the Conjeeveram taluka), south of Manimangalam.
[7] Compare above, No. 12, text line 8.
[8] The verb manru, which occurs also in Vol. I. Nos. 82 and 83, evidently means ‘to pay a fine;’ compare above, p. 38, note 5.
[9] On this title target="_self" see above, Vol. II. p. 312 f.
[10] Above, p. 32, and Ind. Ant. Vol. XXII. P. 142, note 5.
[11] Ep. Ind. Vol. P. 266.
[12] Ibid. p. 216.
[13] Rajadhiraja’s claim to the conquest of Kanyakubja seems to rest on the fact that he killed a king of Ceylon, who was a native of Kanyakubja ; see p. 56 below.
[14] Compare above, Vol. II. . 241, note 1.
[15] The same place had been taken by Rajendra-Chola I. ; see above, Vol. I. p. 96, and Vol. II. p. 108.
[16] See Dr. Fleet’s Kanarese Dynasties, second edition, p. 437.
[17] Ibid, p. 428, Table.
[18] See below, p. 56, note 6.
[19] Wijesinha’s Translation, p. 91 f.
[20] Two princes of the name Sirivallabha, who belong to a later period, are mentioned in chapters lix. Ff. of the Mahavamsa.
[21] See Dr. Fleet’s Kanarese Dynasties, second edition, p. 454.
[22] Ibid. p. 441.
[23] Ibid note 5, and p. 443.
[24] Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 217, No. 14.
[25] Literally, ‘young princess.’
[26] I.e. ‘the Chera king.’
[27] This is a title target="_self" of the Chalukya kings.
[28] I.e. ‘the Pandya king’
[29] I.e. of the Chera, Chalukya, & c.
[30] This seems to mean that the head, which had been cut off, was paraded with the crown on it.
[31] War + alaviya seems to mean ‘of long measure.’
[32] I.e. ‘the elephant among elephants,’ or ‘warding off elephants.’ Compare Arivarana, the name of the elephant of the Pallava king Paramesvaravarman I. ; above, Vol. I. p. 154.
[33] Or ‘wife.’ Kadali means both.
[34] I.e., ‘the sun among heroes.’ As dinakara and aditya are synonymous, Gandar-Dinakaran is the same as Gandaraditya. This was the name of a Silahara feudatory of Vikramaditya VI. And Somesvara III. ; see Dr. Fleet’s Kanarese Dynasties, second edition, pp. 452, 456 and 547 f. But he cannot be meant here, as he flourished about 75 years after the present inscription.
[35] I.e. the Chalukya king.
[36] I.e. ‘he of the elephant family.’ Perhaps the Gangas
[37] This is another name of the Chalukyas ; see above, p. 55, note 20. Hence a better reading would be Pallavar.
[38] The king of Vanga (Bengal) is probably meant.
[39] This seems to refer to the king of Sindhu (Sindh).
[40] Probably the same as Pangala (Bengal) and hence synonymous with Vanga ; see note 5.
[41] I.e. ‘all members being present.’
[42] The same term occurs in an inscription at Ukkal, p. 22 above.
[43] This appears to be the meaning of irai-karatt-uttu.
[44] This name is derived from sundil, mimosa pudica.
[45] This name means ‘the god of the holy Ayodhya’ and apparently refers to a temple of Rama.
[46] By adding up the preceding amounts, only 2,180 kuli are arrived at ; perhaps 20 kuli were added for rounding.
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No. 29.- On the outside of the east wall of the inner prakara of the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
Above, Vol. II. p. 303, I noticed two inscriptions of the 4th year of the reign of Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendradeva. One of these is the subjoined inscription. It is dated on a week-day (1. 14 f.) which will probably admit of astronomical calculation as soon as a second, similarly dated record of the same reign may be discovered.[1] The text of the historical introduction has been settled with the help of two other inscriptions, viz.,-
1. Tv. = an inscription of the 4th year in the Bilvanathesvara temple at Tiruvallam in the North Arcot district (No. 190 of 1894).
2. Tm. = an inscription of the 8th year in the vaidyanatha temple at Tirumalavadi in the Trichninopoly district (No. 84 of 1895).
Like the inscriptions of his predecessor Rajadhiraja (p. 55 f. above) and those of his successor Virarajendra I. (p. 33 above) this inscription of Rajendra opens with a list of relatives on whom the king conferred certain titles (II. 1 to 6). The recipients of these honours were a paternal uncle of the king, four younger brothers of his, six sons (?)[2] The fifth of the sons – Mudikonda-Chola with the title Sundara-Chola[3] - is perhaps identical with a prince of the same name and title, who is mentioned in the inscriptions of Rajendra’s successor, Virarajendra I.[4]
Lines 6 to 12 give a detailed account of the battle of Koppam, which is only briefly noticed in the hitherto published inscriptions of Rajendra.[5] His enemy Ahavamalla (Somesvara I.) is here expressly called Salukki, i.e., the Chalukya king (ii. 7, 9 and 10). The Chola king invaded Ratta-mandalam and was met by Ahavamalla at Koppam. At first the advantage seems to have been on the side of the Chalukya king. Rajendra himself and his elephant were wounded by arrows, and the men who had mounted the elephant along with him were killd. But fresh troops were advanced and truned the fortune of the battle. Ahavamalla fled, and several of his officers fell. Among these the inscription mentions a younger brother of the Chalukya king – Jayasimha,[6] Pulikesin,[7] Dasapanman,[8] Asokaiyan, Araiyan, Mottaiyan and Nanni-Nulamban,[9] and among those who took part in the flight, Vanniya-Revan, Tuttan and Kundamayan. The first of these three chiefs is perhaps identical with the Haihaya MahamandalesvaraRevarasa, who is mentioned as a vassal of Somesvara I. in an inscription of A.D. 1054-55.[10] Among the spoil of the battle were many elephants, three of which are mentioned by name (1. 11), the banner of the boar, and two queens by name Sattiyavvai and Sangappai (1. 12).
Finally, Rajendra dispatched an army to Ceylon, where the Kalinga king Vira-Salamegan was decapitated and the two sons of the Ceylon king Manabharanan were taken prisoners. Another Vira-Salamegan, who is stated to have migrated to Ceylon from Kanyakubja, had been killed by Rajendra’s predecessor Rajadhiraja.[11] The same Chola king had decapitated another Manabharana, who was, however, a Pandya king and not a king of Ceylon.[12] The Mahavamsa mentions two princes of the name Manabharana, and two others of the name Kittisirimegha. Manabharana I.[13] and Kittisirimegha I. were nephews and sons-in-law of the Ceylon king Vijayabahu I. (chapter lix. Verses 42 and 44). His queen Tilokasundari was a princess of Kalinga (ibid. verse 29 f.).[14] Manabharanan and Vira-Salamegan in the subjoined inscription might correspond to Manabharana and Kittisirimegha in the Mahavamsa, and the reason why Vira-Salamegan is styled a Kalinga king in the inscription might be thefact that his mother-in-law was a Kalinga princess according to the Mahavamsa. On the other hand king Vijayabahu I. is supposed to have reigned from A.D. 1065 to 1120, and Vikkamabahu I. in whose time Manabharana I. and Kittisirimegha I. usurped the government of Ceylon, from A.D. 1121 to 1142, while Rajendra and Virarajendra I. have to be accommodated between A.D. 1050 and 1070.[15] Consequently, Manabharana and Vira-Salamegan in the inscription must be distinct from, and prior to, Manabharana I. and Kittisirimegha I. in the Mahavamsa. But, as I have previously stated (p. 39 above), the conquest of Ceylon by Rajendra is established by the existence of an inscription of his in that island.
The subjoined inscription records that the villagers received an unspecified sum from Kamakkavvaiyal, the mother of the Senapti Jayankonda-Chola-Brahmadhiraja, and granted in return a piece of land at Amanpakkam – the modern Ammanambakkam – on the south ofManimangalam[16] to the temple. This land was situated “to the south of the land that has been formerly granted to this god by a stone inscription.” The reference is to an inscription of Rajakesarivarman (No. 27 above), which registers a grant of land on the south of Manimangalam and east of Amanpakkam.
(He) bestowed high crows, resplendent with large jewels, on Gangaikonda-Solan, who was the younger brother of his father (and who was) powerful in defeating (his enemies), (with the title) ‘Irumadi-Solan of exuberant valour;’ among his royal younger brothers of warlike strength, on the victorious Mummadi-Solan,[17] (with the title) ‘Sola-Pandiyan whose valour conquers (enemies) on the battle-field ;’ on Vira-Solan, the lord of Koli (i.e. Uraiyur),[18] who wore ankle-rings, (with the title) ‘Karikala-Solan[19] (who is) praised on earth ;’ on Madhurantakan,[20] whose strong and broad hand (wielded) the sword in warfare, (with the title) ‘Sola-Gangan ;’[21] on Parantakadevan,[22] whose valour was combined with strength of shoulders, (with the title) ‘Sola-Ayottiyarajana ;’[23] among (his) sons,[24] who regarded with kindness (their enemies ?) in distress, on Rajendra-Solan, (who was) praised on this earth, (with the title) ‘Uttama-Solan ;’[25] on Mudikonda-Solan, (who wore) a garland of opening buds (as) an ancient (i.e.,hereditary)ornament, (with the title) ‘the brave Vijayalayan ;’[26] on Sola-Keralan,[27](who holds) a long bow ;’ on Kadarankonda-Solan[28] of great valour, (with the title) ‘Sola-Janakarajan[29] in whom the eminence of the race of the Sun rests ;’ on Mudikonda-Solan, who conquered the earth (surrounded by) the roaring ocean (and who was) praised by many, (with the title ) ‘Sundara-Solan;’ on Irattapadikonda-Solan,[30] (who was) the rock of support to pure Tamil, (with the title) ‘Sola-Kannakuchchiyarajan,[31] the lord of the ancient earth ;’ then, among the sons of his sons,[32] on Madhurantakan,[33] who was (i.e.,resembled) the great sun (and who wore) sounding ankle-rings, (with the title) ‘Sola-Vallabhan[34] (who leads) a victorious army ;’ and on the matchless Anaichcheagan,[35] whose hand (held) a strong bow, (with the title) ‘Nripendra-Solan.’
(L. 6.) While (the Chola king) was resplendent on earth, the proud and furrous Salukki (i.e., Chalukya king) Ahavamallan, - having heard the substance of the report that the Valavan (i.e., the Chola king), desirous of war, had started (from his country), had reached Iratta-mandalam, (whose inhabitants are) very brave, and had destroyed many rivers ( ! ), districts and towns, - exclaimed : “This (is) a disgrace to me !,” sprang up, (his) eyes burning (with rage), went into Koppam, the strength (of whose position is) hard to describe, (and) commenced to attack the enemy.
(L. 8.) At that time, when the shower of his (viz., Ahavamalla’s) straight arrows pierced the forehead of his (i.e., the Chola king’s) elephant, his royal thigh, and (his) shoulders which resembled hillocks, and when the warriors wearing ankle-rings, who had mounted the elephant along with him, fell, (the Chola king) distributed (on the battle-field) many matchless warlike regiments (which had) not (yet been) detached, and transported to heaven Jayasingan, (who was) the younger brother of that strong Salukki, the warlike Pulikesi, and Dasapanman, (who wore) a garland ; among proud princes : the chief (Mandalin) Asokaiyan, Araiyan, who ruled (with) great fame which was well deserved, Mottaiyan, (who wore) a garland of half-open (buds) full of honey, Nanni-Nulamban of great valour, and other princes without number.
(L. 10.) The Salukki was defeated, - with Vanniya-Revan, Tuttan, (who had) a powerful army, Kundamayan, whose army spoke (i.e., threatened) death, and other princes, - fled, trembling vehemently, with disheveled hair, turning (his) back, looking round, and tiring (his) legs, and was forced to plunge into the western ocean.
(L. 11.) At that time (the Chola king) captured in battle satrubhayamkara, Karabhadra, Mulabhadra and many (other) excellent elephants of noble breed, horses of lofty gait, herds of camels, the victorious banner of the boar and the other insignia of royalty, the peerless Sattiyavvai, Sangappai and all the other queens, a crowd of women, and other (booty) which he (viz., Ahavamalla) had abandoned on that battle-field, and performed the anointment of victory.
(L. 12.) (The king) dispatched a warlike army into the southern region, captured in Lanka, (surrounded by) the black ocean, Vira-Salamegan, the king of the Kalingas, (who had) a powerful army, with (his) elephants (which resembled) the ocean, caused to be cut off (his head which wore) a brilliant crown, and seized on the battle-field the two sons of Manabharanan, the king of the people of Lanka.
(L. 13.) On the 8[2]nd day of the fourth year (of the reign) of (this) king Parakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Rajendradeva, who (continually) increased very much (his) very great fame, - we, the great assembly of Rajasulamani-chaturvedimangalam in Maganur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Sengattu-kottam, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, being assembled, without a vacancy in the assembly, in the Brahmasthana-mandapa[36] in our village on the day of Rohini, which corresponded to a Thursday and to the eighth tithiof the second fortnight of the month of Simhain this year, gave the following land to (the temple of) Srimad-Dvarapati, alias Sri-Kamakkodi-Vinnagar-Alvar, in our village.
(L. 15.) Land at Amanpakkam, a southern hamlet of our village. The eastern boundary (of this land is) to the west of the Mannikkal (channel) ;[37] the southern boundary (is) to the north of the Mannikkal(channel) ; the western boundary (is) to the east of the Araisanguttam (pond) and of the field named Nangasi ; and the northern boundary (is) to the south of the bank of the Nakkapputteri (tank) at Paluvur and to the south of the land that has been formerly granted to this god by a stone inscription.
(L. 18.)Having received funds (svam) from Kamakkavvaiyal, the mother of the Senapati Jayankonda-Sola-Brahmadhirajar, we, the great assembly, are bound to pay the taxes on this land for as long as the moon and the sun exist, and to give the whole land enclosed within these four boundaries, the water-courses, the breaches (in the bands of tanks),[38] the trees over ground and the wells underground.
(L. 21.) Having been present in the assembly and having heard the order of Karambisettu Narayana-Kramavittan,[39] of Irayur, and Sahanai Madhava-Kramavittan, who had districted the blocks (karai)[40]and inspected the blocks, I, Alankaran Sriraman, the village-accountant of this village, wrote (the above). This (is) my writing.
[1] As the day of the year of the reign is mentioned besides the week-day, the calculation of the latter would also settle the very date of Rajendra’s accession to the throne.
[2] See below, page 62, note 9.
[3] The second son of the king also had the name Mudikonda-Chola, but bore the title Vijayalaya.
[4] See p. 33 above.
[5] See above, p. 39, and Vol. II. p. 303.
[6] This prince is not mentioned in the Western Chalukya inscriptions.
[7] This chief was named after the two Chalukya kings of the same name.
[8] This chief was named after dasavarman or Yasovarman, the younger son of Tail II. Dasavarman is a vulgar form of Yasovarman ; compare tuvaraya and tuvarasa for yuvaraja, Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 180 and note 5.
[9] This may have been a Pallava chief of Nulambapadi ; see Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 180 and note 3.
[10] Dr. Fleet’s Kanarese Dynasties, second edition, p. 439.
[11] See page 56 above.
[12] See ibid.
[13] He became the father of king Parakkamabahau I. ; see chapter lxii. Verse 52.
[14] Verse 46 mentions three of her relations, Madhukannava, Bhimaraja and Balakkara.
[15] See page 32 above.
[16] See above, p. 50 and note 3.
[17] The same had been a surname of Rajaraja I. ; see above, p. 22 and note 11.
[18] See above, Vol. II. p. 380 and notes 3 and 4.
[19] Karikala had been the name of an ancient Chola king ; ibid. p. 377 f.
[20] The same was the name or surname of three Chola kings (Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 331) and the name of a son of Virarajendra I. (p. 33 above).
[21] Chodaganga was also a surname of the Eastern Ganga king Anantavarman ; Ind. Ant. Vol. XVIII. P. 161.
[22] Parantaka had been the name of two Chola kings ; see the Table on p. 112 of Vol. I. above.
[23] I.e. ‘the Ayodhya king (viz., Rama) among the Cholas.’
[24] The word kadalar may also mean ‘friends.’
[25] The same appears to have been a surname of Rajendra-Chola I. This may be concluded from the surname of one of his officers; see p. 14 above.
[26] This had been the name of the ancestor of the ruling Chola dynasty; see above, Vol. II. p. 379.
[27] Compare the territorial designation Sola-Kerala-mandalam, p. 31 above.
[28] I.e., ‘the Chola who conquered Kadram,’ which figures among the conquests of Rajendra-Chola I.’ se above, Vol. II. p. 105 f.
[29] Janaka is the name of Rama’s father-in-law ; compare note 8 above.
[30] I.e. ‘the Chola who conquered Rattapadi,’ which figures among the conquests of Rajaraja I and his successors.
[31] I.e., ‘the Chola who conquered Rattapadi,’ which figures among the conquests of Rajaraja I. and his successors.
[32] Or, ‘the friends of his friends;’ see note 9 above.
[33] A similar title had been conferred by Rajadhiraja on one of his relatives; see p. 56 above.
[34] Vallabha was a title of the Chalukya kings; compare above, p. 55, note 20.
[35] This name means ‘a mahout’.
[36] See above, p. 57 and note 9.
[37] The same channel is mentioned in line 5 of No. 27 above.
[38] Compare above, Vol. II. p. 393.
[39] See above, p. 4, note 10.
[40] Compare above, Vol. II. p. 116.
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No. 30.- On the north wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is dated in the 5th year of the reign of Rajakesarivarman, alias Virarajendradeva (I.), and on a week-day (1. 37) which will probably admit of astronomical calculation if a second, similarly dated record of the same reign should be discovered. It opens with a long and interesting historical passage, the first portion of which agrees on the whole with the introduction of the Karuvur inscription of the same king (No. 20 above). But the statement that the king conferred certain titles on some relatives of his (No. 20, 11. 1 to 3) is omitted here. For the reconstruction of the text of the fresh portion of the introduction no materials are available besides the incomplete introduction of the Takkolam inscription and some stray fragments of the Gangaikonda-Solapuram inscription.
Virarajendra I. is said to have defeated the Keralas at Ulagai, which seems to have been a place on the western coast, and to have tied in his stables the elephants of the Chalukyas and Pandyas (1. 16 f.). In a battle on the bank of an unspecified river he cut off the heads of a number of chiefs, some of who are mentioned by name, but cannot be identified (1. 17 ff.). As the Ganga and Nulamba chiefs figure among them, they probably feudatories of the Western Chalukya king. Virarajendra I. was going to exhibit the heads of his victims at Gangaikonda-Solapuram, when his old enemy, the Chalukya king (Ahavamalla-Somesvara I.), prepared to take revenge for his former defeat a Kudal (or Kudalsangamam)[1] and dispatched an autograph letter, in which he challenged the Chola king to meet him once more at Kudal (1. 20 ff.). Virarajendra I. proceeded to Kandai (or Karandai ?) which seems to have been a place near Kudal, on the appointed day. Though he waited there for a full month, his enemy did not put in his appearance, but took to flight (1. 24 f.). The Chola king occupied and burnt Ratta-padi and planted an inscribed pillar of victory on the Tungabhadra river (1. 25 f.).
Then follows a passage which states that Virarajendra I appointed “the liar who came on a subsequent day” to be Chalukya king or heir-apparent, and that, in derision, he placed round the neck of the candidate a board on which was written that the bearer had escaped execution by an elephant and had run always in public (1. 26 ff.). The Manimangalam inscription does not name the person who was the object of this mockery. But an inscription of the 7th year of Virarajendra I. at Tirukkalukkunram (No. 175 of 1894) says that the king “tied (round the neck) of the Salukki Vikramaditya, who had taken refuge at his feet, a necklace (kanthika), (which) illumined the eight directions, and was pleased to conquer and to bestow (on him) the seven and a half lakshas of Ratta-padi.” Thus it appears that the Chalukya king or heir-apparent appointed by Virarajendra I. was Vikramaditya VI., the son of his enemy Ahavamalla-Somesvara I., and that Vikramaditya’s coronation was not a mere sham act, as which it is represented in the subjoined inscription. As it is now an established fact that, after the wars between Somesvara I. and Virarajendra I., the latter entered into friendly relations with Vikramaditya VI., it cannot be doubted any more that the Chola king whole daughter, according to the Vikramankadevacharita, became the wife of Vikramaditya VI., is identical with Virarajendra I.[2]
The king next undertook an expedition into Vengai-nadu, i.e., the country of Vengi, which he had already conquered on a former occasion[3] (1. 28). His army defeated the enemy “on the great river close to Visaiyavadai,” i.e. at Bezvada on the Krishna, proceeded to the Godavari, and passed Kalinga and Chakra-kotta (1. 29 f.). The king bestowed the country of Vengai on Vijayaditya (1. 30 f.). Formerly I identified this prince with the Eastern Chalukya viceroy Vijayaditya VII.[4] But Mr. Venkayya aptly suggests that he may be the same as Vishnuvardhana-Vijayaditya, a younger brother of Vikramaditya VI., who bore the title ‘lord of the province of Vengi.’[5]
On his return to Gangaikonda-Solapuram the king assumed the surname Rajadhirajaraja and exhibited the booty which he had brought from the country of Vengai (1. 31 ff.).
In lines 36 ff. the inscription records that 4,450 kuli of land near the village were granted to the temple by the Senapati Jayankonda-Chola-Brahmadhiraja, whose mother had made the grant described in the preceding inscription of Rajendra (No. 29). The land had been purchased from the villagers by Manjippayanar,[6] alias Jayasimhakulantaka-Brahmamarayar, the father of the Senapati.
[The first 15 lines agree with 11. 1 – 10 of No. 20 above.]
(Line 16.) When at Ulagai[7] the Keralas were uprooted along with the infants of their family, ran away and plunged into the western ocean, (the Chola king) dispatched (his) elephants for a rare bath (in the ocean). (He) tied in the stables the Irattas (i.e., the Chalukyas) whose elephants were numberless,[8]along with the elephants of the Kanniyas,[9] which (he) had seized. (He) took the tribute which they paid, along with female elephants (which had) trappings, and returned.
(L. 17.) Having occupied (an island) surrounded by water, (he) cut off in a hot battle, which had been appointed near the river, the great heads of the following Dandanayakas :- Malliyanan of great valour, Manjippayan, Piramadevan (i.e., Brahmadeva), whose elephants dripped with rut, Asokaiyan,[10] (who wore) a fresh garland, Sattiyanan of brilliant valour, Pattiyanan, (the minister for) peace and war, Vimayan, (who wore) a fragrant, excellent garland (and who resembled) a rutting elephant, and Vangaran of great wisdom, (and the heads) of the Ganga (king), (who carried) a dreadful lance, of the Nulamba (king),[11] of the king of the Kadavas,[12] and of the Vaidumba king,[13] the rut of whose elephants was diminishing (through fear).
(L. 20.) Before (the Chola king) had nailed up (the heads of these princes in) the great city (called after) the great river Ganga,[14] the Salukki,[15] who came from the race of the Moon, reproached himself, saying : - “It is much better to dic than to live in disgrace,” became troubled in mind, and declared that the same Kudal, where, previously, (his) son and himself turned their backs and were routed, (should be the next) battle-field.
(L. 21.) In order that all might know (it), (he) wrote as preamble of a letter, which was hard to be dispatched, the words : - “He who does not come to the appointed Kudal through fear, shall be no king, (but) a liar (who incurs) great disgrace in war,” (and) gave (this letter) along with the order for dispatch (?) to the liars of Iratta-padi,[16] who ordered Ganga[k]ettan (to deliver it).
(L. 23.) He came, prostrated himself at the two feet (of the Chola king), the declared (the contents of) the letter. The mind, the face and the two royal shoulders (of the king) became doubly brilliant with surpassing beauty and joy.
(L. 24.) (He) started and entered that battle-field. Not having seen the king of the Vallabhas (i.e., the Chalukyas) arrive at Kandai,[17] (he) waited one month after the appointed day. Then the liar[18] ran away until his legs became sore, and hid himself in the western ocean, and each of the three : devanathan, Sitti and Kesi, turned their backs.
(L. 25.) (The Chola king) subdued (in) war the seven and a half lakshas of the famous[19] Iratta-padi, and kindled crackling fires. In order that the four quarters might praise (him), (he) planted (on) the bank of the Tungabhadra a pillar (bearing) a description of (his) victory, while the male tiger, (the crest of the race) of the Sun, sported joyfully.[20]
(L. 26.) (The king) appointed the liar,[21] who came on a subsequent day, as Vallabha (i.e., Chalukya king), and tied (round his neck) a beautiful necklace (kanthika).[22] (He) wrote unmistakably on a board how (the Chalukya) had escaped the trunk of an elephant (which had) a cord (round its neck), and had run away with the knowledge (of all the people) of this earth.[23] Then, on the auspicious day on which (the latter) attained to the dignity of Salukki, (the Chola king) tied on (his) breast (that board) and a quiver (of arrows), which was closed (and hence useless).
(L. 28.) Having moved (his camp), he declared: - “(We) shall not return without regaining the good country Vengai, which (we had formerly) subdued. You,[24] (who are) strong, come and defend (it) if (you) are able!” That army which was chosen (for this expedition) drove into the jungle that big army, which resisted (its enemies) on the great river close to Visaiyavadai (and) which had for its chiefs Jananathan,[25] the Dandanayaka Rajamayan, whose mast elephants trumpeted in herds, and Mupparasan.
(L. 29.) His elephants drank the water of the Godavari. (He) Kalingam and, beyond (it), dispatched (for) battle (his) invincible army as far as the further end of Sakara-kottam (Chakra-kotta).[26]
(L. 30.) (He) re-conquered the good country of Vengai and bestowed (it) on Vijayadityan, whose broad hand (held) weapons of war, (and) who had taken refuge at his lotus-feet.[27]
(L. 31.) Having been pleased to return speedily, (the Chola king) entered Gangapuri[28] with the goddess of victory, who had shown hostility in the interval,[29] and there made (himself) the lord of the earth, (with the title) Rajadhirajarajan,[30] in accordance with the observances of his (family).
(L. 32.) While (all) the kings on earth worshipped (his) feet and praised (him), (he) was seated on a throne of bright jewels and exhibited in order the heap of the great treasures which (he) had seized in the good country of Vengai. (He) unlocked the rings and chains (of prisoners) and altered (his previously made) vow, according to which they ought to have lived (in confinement). (He) wielded a scepter which ruled (as far as) the limits of (the mountain) surrounded by snow (i.e., the Himalaya) the of Setu (i.e.,Ramesvaram), and illumined the earth.
(L. 34.) In the fifth year (of the reign) of (this) Rajakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Virarajendradeva, who illustrated (by his conduct) the laws of Manu, which are hard to follow and was seated on the royal (throne), (which he) had acquired by right of warlike deeds, while the matchless banner of heroism, along with the banner of liberality, was raised on high (as if) to say : - “Let (all) supplicants come !”
(L. 36.) We, the great assembly of Manimangalam alias Rajasulamani-chaturvedimangalam, in Maganur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Sengattu-kottam, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, having given alms (?) and being assembled, without a vacancy in the assembly, in the large mandapa (of) the Brahmasthana[31] in our village, on the day of Uttara (Phalguni), which corresponded to a Monday and to the fourteenth tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Kanya in this year, (gave to the temple) the following land, which we had formerly given on payment, free of taxes, to Manjippayanar, aliasJayasimhakulantaka-Brahmamarayar, the father of the Senapati Jayankonda-Sola-Brahmadhirajar, the owner of a living (jivita) in this village, and which he was enjoying as his property.
(L. 40.) An areca garden of two hundred and fifty kuli, which he had purchased, to the east of the large channel which flows from the large sluice of this village, (and) to the north of the Bharata channel, and four thousand and two hundred kuli to the east of the bank of the large tank, to the north of the channel (which flows from) the sluice of Panaiyandanjeri, to the south of the garden of Koran[ji Rudra-Kra]mavittan, and to the west of a large road, excluding other Devadanas,- altogether four thousand four hundred and fifty kuli by the rod (kol) of this village were given to (the temple of) Srimad-Dvarapati, (alias) Sri-Kamakkodi-Vinnagar-Alvar in this village, for the expenses of the worship, by the SenaptiJayankonda-Sola-Brahmadhirajar, the son of that Manjippayanar.
(L. 44.) We, the great assembly, are bound to pay the taxes and to give these four thousand four hundred and fifty kuli of land to this Alvar for as long as the moon and the sun exist.
(L. 45.) Having been present in the assembly and having heard the order of Bhavanandi-Sahasran of Pirandur, Tindakula-Madhava-Kramavittan of Aranaippuram, and Madhava-Kramavittan of Ivuni, who had districted the blocks and inspected the blocks,[32] I, Vadugan Pakkaran (i.e., Bhaskara), the accountant of the village, wrote (the above). This (is) my writing.
[1] For a description of this battle see p. 37 above.
[2] See my Annual Report for 1891-92, p. 5, and above, Vol. II. p. 231 f.
[3] See page 37 above.
[4] Above, Vol. II. p. 232.
[5] Dr. Fleet’s Kanarese Dynasties, second edition, p. 454, and above, p. 52 and note 8.
[6] A Dandanayaka named Manjippayan had been decapitated by Virarajendra I. ; see text line 18 of this inscription.
[7] Instead of this, the Takkolam inscription reads Udagai, which seems to have been a city of the Pandyas ; see above, Vol. II. p. 250, note 3.
[8] Perhaps the author means ‘the numberless elephants of the Irattas,’ and not ‘the Irattas whose elephants were numberless.’
[9] This seems to be a designation of the Pandyas, in whose dominions Kanni, i.e., Cape Comorin, was situated.
[10] A Mandalin Asokaiyan is stated to have lost his life in the battle of Koppam ; see p. 63 above.
[11] I.e., the Pallava chief of Nulambapadi ; compare above, p. 59, note 1.
[12] I.e., the Pallava chief of Senji (Gingee) ; see Ind. Ant. Vol. XXII. P. 143.
[13] Compare above, Vol. II. p. 379, note 9.
[14] I.e. in Gangaikonda-Solapuram.
[15] I.e., the Western Chalukya king Ahavamalla-Somesvara I., who was already referred to in the description of the battle of Kudalsangamam ; see the translation on p. 37 above.
[16] I.e., the ministers of the Chalukya king.
[17] As ra and the secondary form of a are expressed by the same character, the name of this place may have as well been Karandai.
[18] Viz. Ahavamalla, who had earned this epithet by not keeping the appointment at Kudal, which he had proposed himself.
[19] Literally, ‘which is hard to praise.’
[20] The tiger was probably figured on the jayastambha, as on a pillar, which contains an inscription of Rajendra-Chola, on the top of Mahendragiri ; see my Annual Report for 1895-96, p. 7.
[21] An inscription of the 7th year at Tirukkalukkunram (see p. 65 above) shows that this ‘liar’ was Vikramaditya (VI.)
[22] On kanthika as a symbol of the dignity of heir apparent see Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 227, note 10.
[23] It seems that Vikramaditya VI. Had been condemned to be trampled to death by a mast elephant which was led by ropes, but that he escaped and was pardoned.
[24] This is addressed to the king who held Vengi at the time.
[25] On a previous occasion Virarajendra I. had decapitated the younger brother of Jananatha of Dhara ; see p. 37 above.
[26] See above, Vol. II. p. 234, note 9.
[27] This passage was already quoted ibid. p. 232, note 3.
[28] See above, p. 68, note 11.
[29] This is an admission of the fact that the Cholas had experienced reverses.
[30] The Gangaikonda-Solapuram inscription reads [Ra]jadhirajan-Rajara[ja].
[31] See above, p. 63 and note 1.
[32] See above, p. 64 and note 3.
No. 31.- On the west wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription belongs to the 48th year of the reign of Rajakesarivarman, alias Kulottunga-Choladeva (I.), and opens with the same introduction as two inscription as two inscriptions at Kanchi, which I have published in Vol. II. (Nos. 77 and 78). It is dated on a week-day (1. 8) which, according to Professor Kielhorn’s calculation,[1] corresponds to Friday, the 25th January A.D. 1118. On this day a private person purchased from several other persons 1,050 kuli of land near the village and granted them to the temple, with the condition that the produce of the land might be used for defraying the cost of processions of new-moon days.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 48th year (of the reign) of king Rajakesarivarman, alias the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, who,- while the goddess of fame became renowned (through him), while the goddess of victory was coveting (him), while the goddess of the earth became brilliant (with joy), (and) while the goddess with the (lotus) flower (i.e., Lakshmi) wedded (him), - had put on by right of inheritance the excellent crown of jewels ; who had caused the wheel of his (authority) to roll over all regions, so that the Minavar (pandyas) lost (their) firmness, the Villavar (Cheras) trembled, (and) the other kings were defeated the suffered disgrace ; and who, having anointed himself (in commemoration of his) victories, was graciously seated on the throne of heroes in union with (his queen) Ulagudaiyal.[2]
(L. 4.) The writing of us, the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Pandiyanai-irumadi-ven-konda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu.
(L. 6.) With the knowledge of Kesuvapattan (i.e., Kesava-Bhatta) of Allur and Tiruvaykkula-Pittan of Aranaipuram, the managers of the temple Vanduvarapati-Emberuman in our village, - in the [48]th year (of the king’s reign), on the day of Satabhishaj, which corresponded to a Friday and to the second tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Kumbha.
(L. 8.) In order that (the god) might be carried in procession at new-moon from this year forward as long as the moon and the sun exist, Nulappiyaru-[Kil]an Velan [Pe]rayiram-udaiyan, alias Tandaganad-udaiyan, of Nulappiyaru in Ambatturnadu,[3] (a subdivision) of Rajendra-Sola-valanadu,[4] purchased from Donaya-Kramavittan of Kundur one hundred and twenty-five kuli at the Alaimedu (hill).[5] In the same place (he) purchased from the arbitrator (madhyastha) Urappondan and (his) younger brothers one hundred and fifteen kuli. From Tiruppori-Kramavittan of Irayur (he) purchased one hundred and twenty-three kuli to the east of the channel above the ‘Bignonia field.’[6] In the same place (he) purchased from Vishnu Tiruvengada-Kramavittan of Irayur one hundred and seventeen kuli. In the same place (he) purchased from Aiyakki Vanduvarapati-Pichchar one hundred and ten kuli. In the same place (he) purchased from Ya[jna]narayana-Kramavittan of Irayur one hundred and twenty-seven kuli. In the second Kannaru[7] to the north of the Alavadi (road) (he) purchased from Viravali Tiruvarangam-udaiyan Sahasran one hundred and twenty kuli. In the third Kannaru at the same place (he) purchased from Nandi-Kramavittan of Irayur one hundred and eight kuli on the northern side. In the first Kannaru to the east of the Arivalvadi (road) (he) purchased from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karambichchettu[8] Nanamalai-Kramavittan one hundred and fifteen kuli.
(L. 18.) In order that these one thousand and fifty kuli [9] might continue as long as the moon and the sun, for providing[10] (the processions) at new-moon, - having received from him as purchaser the gold necessary for making (the land) tax-free, we, the assembly, gave (it) free of taxes, agreeing that we, the assembly, shall have to pay the taxes due on this land.
(L. 21.) Having engraved this on stone and copper, we, the great assembly, gave (it) free of taxes, to continue as long as the moon and the sun.
(L. 22.) Having been present in the assembly, I, the arbitrator of this village, Manimangalam-udaiyan Velan Peran, wrote (the above) at the order of Aiyyakki Vanduvarapati-Pichchar. This (is) my writing.
No. 32– On the south wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is mutilated at the end. It records the purchase of some land near the village, the produce of which was assigned to the temple for providing offerings. The name of the purchaser and donor was Viravali Tiruvarangam-udaiyan Sahasran, and the two temple managers at the time of the purchase were Kesava-Bhattan of Allur and Tiruvaykkula-Pittan of Aranaippuram. As the same three persons are mentioned in the preceding inscription (No. 31), which belongs to the reign of Kulottunga I., it follows that the subjoined inscription, which is dated in the 48th year of Tribhuvanachakravartin Kulottunga-Choladeva, has to be assigned also to Kulottunga I.
(Line 1.) Hail! Prosperity! In the 48th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, on the day of Satabhishaj, which corresponded to a Friday and to the twelfth tithi[11]of the first fortnight of the month of Kumbha.
(L. 2.) The writing of the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Pandiyanai-irumadi-ven-kanda-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam.
(L. 3.) With the knowledge of Kesava-Bhattan of [Alu]r and Tiruvaykkula-Alvar, which is the temple in the middle of our village.
(L. 4.) Viravali Tiruvarangam-udaiyan Sahasran of this village purchased, for providing offerings of this Alvar, from Damodara-Kramavittan of Irayur and Chandradeva-Anna[t]ti-Kramavittan of Kundur, (two residents) of this village [2]6[6] kuli of cultivated land in the second kannaru[12] to the east of the Manai-arudi channel[13] at the Alaimedu (hill)[14] in this village, enclosed within the following four boundaries : - The eastern boundary of the land (is) to the west of the third Kannaru ; the southern boundary (is) to the north of a channel which flows towards the east ; the western boundary (is) to the east of this second Kannaru ; (and) the northern boundary (is) to the south of the Perunalvadi (road) [15] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
No. 33.- On the west wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is dated in the 4th year of the reign of Parakesarivarman, alias Vikrama-Choladeva (1. 17), and opens with an introduction which resembles that of the Tanjavur inscription of this king, but is only partially preserved. It records that certain land was purchased from the villagers and granted to the temple. The land was situated in Pulvayppappan-Kulattur – evidently a portion of the village of Kulattur which is referred to in No. 27 above.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 4th year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman, alias the emperior of the three worlds, Sri-Vikrama-Soladeva, who, & c.[16]
(L. 18.) The hand-writing, (referring to) a deed of sale (vilaiy-avanam) of land,[17] of us, the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Pandiyanai-irumadi-men-konda-Sla-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunratur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam.
(L. 19.) We have sold the following land to Kesavan Perayiram-udaiyan, alias Tandaganad-udaiyan, the headman of Nulappiyaru[18] in Ambattur-nadu,[19] (a subdivision) of Pular-kottam,[20] alias Rajendra-Sola-valanadu.
(L. 20.) Land in [Pulva]yppappa[n-Kulattur], a hamlet on the west of this village. (The northern boundary is) to the south of the pond of I[daiyankadu]; (the southern boundary is) to the north of the boundary of Maganur ;[21] the eastern boundary (is) to the west of Kalarun[ga]li ; and the western boundary (is) to the east of the pond.
(L. 22.) We, the great assembly, sold (1) the field of one-quarter (veli), enclosed within these four boundaries, (which measures) from old times 1,500 – one thousand and five hundred (kuli), including the large field of Nambi-nangai, and (2) half (a veli) of land (called) Naduvu-[ti]ruttichchey, to (the temple of) Vanduvarapati-Tiruvaykkulatt-Alvar in this village, in order that (the god) might receive offerings after having bathed on the day on which (he) is carried out for the Tiruvurosani (festival), (which takes place) every month on (the day of) Rohini, the nakshatra of the birth (of the god) of our village.
(L. 25.) This was written under order by Manimangalam-udaiyan Ilakkuvanan (i.e., Lakshmana) Ramadevan.
[1] Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 263.
[2] I.e., ‘the mistress of the world ;’ compare above, Vol. II. p. 391, note 8.
[3] This subdivision owes its name to Ambattur, a village and Railway station west of Madras and 6 miles north of Saidapet.
[4] See below, p. 76 and note 15.
[5] The same field is mentioned in No. 28, 1. f f.
[6] The same field is mentioned in No. 28, 1. 8 f.
[7] The same term occurs repeatedly in an inscription at Tirumalai (Vol. I. No. 72). It seems to denote a group of fields.
[8] Compare above, No. 29, text line 22.
[9] By adding up the preceding amounts we arrive at 1,060 kuli, i.e., 10 more than stated in the text.
[10] On puram see above, p. 6, note 9.
[11] Professor Kielhorn states that ‘the twelfth tithi’ is a mistake for ‘the second tithi’ and that, consequently, the whole date of this inscription is identical with that of No. 31.
[12] See above, p. 73, note 6.
[13] Compare above, No. 28, text line.
[14] See ibid. text line 9 f. and No. 31, text line 10.
[15] See above, No. 28, text line 8 f.
[16] The historical introduction of this inscription, as far as it is preserved, agrees with the introduction of the Tanjavur inscription of Vikrama-Chola ; above, Vol. II. No. 68.
[17] The same term occurs in No. 10 above, text line 2.
[18] The donor of an inscription of Kulottunga I. (above, No. 31, text line 9 f.) bore the same title target="_self"s and may
[19] See above, p. 73, note 2.
[20] This district is named after Pulal or Polal, a village near Madras on the road to Nellore (No. 38 on the Madras Survey Map of the Saidapet taluka). Compare Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 8, note 2.
[21] See above, No. 27, text line 3.
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No. 34.- On the west wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is dated in the 8th year of the reign of Tirubhuvanachakravartin Kulottunga-Choladeva. It records that the villagers gave to the temple two pieces of land near the village, the first of which had been purchased from Sahanai Madhava-Bhattan. The second piece of land had been purchased in the 13th year of the reign of Vikrama-Choladeva.
As it is improbable that a very long time could have passed between the purchase of the land in the 13th year of Vikrama-Choladeva and its grant to the temple in the 8th year of Kulottunga-Choladeva, it may be assumed that Kulottunga-Choladeva was the immediate successor of Vikrama-Choladeva. According to the Chellur plates of Kulottunga II.,[1] Vikrama-Choda reigned for 15 years (A.D. 1112-1127)[2] and was succeeded by his son Kulottunga-Choda II. Hence the former may be identified with Vikrama-Choladeva who is mentioned in the subjoined inscription, and the latter with Kulottunga-Choladeva to whose reign the inscription belongs.
(Line 1.) Hail! Prosperity! In the 8th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva. The writing of us, the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Pandiyanai-irumadi-ven-kanda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam.
(L. 3.) With the knowledge of the manager of the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman in our village, and of the overseer of the Sri-Vaishnavas, we, the great assembly, have given (the following land), free of taxes, to continue as long as the moon and the sun.
(L. 4.) 210 kuli – two hundred and ten kuli – in the second Kannaru [3] to the east of the Manaiy-arudichannel[4] at the Alaimedu (hill)[5] in this village – which had been purchased for gold as a Tiruvidaiyattam[6] to this Emberuman from [S]aha[n]ai Madhava-Bhattan.
(L. 5.) And a garden of 169 + ¾ + 2/20 + 1/80 kuli – one hundred and sixty-nine, three quarters, two twentieths and one eightieth kuli, - to the east of the large channel which flows to the north from the large sluice of this village ; to the west of the Alavadi (road) ;[7] to the north of Tiruvidaiyattam of this Emberuman in the second Kannaru ;[8] to the east of the large channel ; (and) to the south of the Kannaru, - which had been purchased for gold in the 13th year (of the reign) of Sri-Viravali [Uyya]kkondan Bhattan.
(L. 9.) Having heard the order, I, the accountant of this village, Ilakkuvanan Panchanedi. Alumbiran, aliasMahajanapriyan, wrote (the above). This (is) my writing.
No. 35.- On the outside of the east wall of the inner prakara of the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is dated in the 8th year of the reign of Parakesarivarman, alias Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva (1. 5), and opens with a panegyrical passage, from which we learn nothing of any importance but this is queen bore the name or title Mukkokkilanadigal.[9] It records that some land near the village was purchased from Sahanai Madhava-Bhattan and assigned to the temple, with the condition that the produce of the land should be applied for providing offerings of boiled rice to the god.
At the time of the inscription of overseer of the Sri-Vaishnavas was Arattamukkidasan. As the same officer is referred to in two inscriptions of the 12th and 28th years of the reign of Kulottunga-Chola III. (Nos. 36 and 37 below), it may be assumed either that Parakesarivarman, alias Rajarajadeva, was identical with that Rajarajadeva who succeeded Kulottunga-Chola III. or that he was the predecessor of the latter. I am inclined to adopt the second alternative, because the present inscription mentions as the person from whom the granted land was purchased a certain Sahanai Madhava-Bhattan, whose name occurs in a similar connection in the inscription of Kulottunga-Chola II. (No. 34 above). Hence the king to whose reign the subjoined inscription belongs has to be styled Rajaraja II., and the successor of Kulottunga-Chola III. will be Rajaraja III. The reign of Rajaraja II. would fall between A.D. 1132, the latest date of Kulottunga II,[10] and A.D. 1178, the date of the accession of Kulottunga III.[11]
I have impression of two other inscriptions of Rajaraja II. which open with the same panegyrical introduction. The first of them, in the Svetaranyesvara temple at Kadapperi near Madurantakam in the Chingleput district (No. 132 of 1896), is dated in the 9th year ; and the second, in the Ekamranatha temple at Conjeeveram (No. 9 of 1893), is dated in the 15th year of the reign, “on the day of Punarvasu, which was a Thursday and the fourteenth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Tai.”…..
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! While the goddess of prosperity, who carries a (lotus) flower, the goddess of the earth, the goddess of victory, the goddess of learning, who resided on (his) tongue, and the goddess, of fame lovingly embraced (him), and while all the rules prescribed in the sacred Vedas and the elegant Tamil flourished exceedingly, (the king) put on the jeweled crown by right of royal descent.
(L. 2.) The moon of (his) white parasol was glittering as if it were a matchless hall in which the eight elephants of the quarters abided ;[12] (his) scepter drove away, (like) a prostitute, the dark Kali (age) ; and (his) discus, powerful in battle, accompanied (his) sceptre), extending (his conquests on) the earth.
(L. 3.) Having won the heart (of the goddess) of the earth for countless ages, (he) was pleased to be seated on the throne of heroes, (made) of pure gold, with (his queen) Mukkokkilanadiga, the mistress of the world, while the Villavar (Cheras), Telungar, Minavar (Pandyas), Singalar, Pallavar and other kings prostrated themselves (before him).
(L. 5.) In the 8th year (of the reign) of (this) king Parakesarivarman, alias the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Rajarajadeva.
(L. 6.) The writing of us, the great assembly of Manimangalam, alias Pandiyanai-irumadi-men-konda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam.
(L. 7.) With the knowledge of Vishnu-Bhattan of Irayur, the manager of the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman in our village, and of Arattamukkidasan the overseer of the Sri-Vaishanvas.
(L. 9.) In order that (the god) Vanduvarapati-Emberuman in our village might receive (every day) an offering of four nali of boiled rice before early dawn, the Mangalangilan Velan Malaiginiyaninran of Urrukkadu,[13] alias Alagiya-Sola-nallur, in Urrukkadu-nadu, (a subdivision) of Urrukkattu-kottam, (a district) of the same mandalam, purchased for money from [S]aganai[14] Madhava-Bhattan of our village (the following) land.
(L. 11.) Two hundred and five and a half kuli of Kakkambiral Srirama-Sirilango in the second Kannaru[15] to the east of the large channel which flows to the north from the large sluice of this village,[16] and to the north of the Alavadi (road),[17] which that Madhava-Bhattan had purchased from Kakkambilal Karunakara-Bhattan of this village ; two hundred and seventeen kuli of Kakkambiral Srirama-Sirilango in the fourth Kannaru to the north of this road ; to the east of this, one hundred and nine kuli, equal to one tadi (and) bearing the same name ; and to the north of this, eighty kuli, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . in the field of Sahanai Bhattaraiyan, which that Madhava-Bhattan had received as a present from Tiruvengada-Bhattan of this village, - altogether,[18] six hundred and twelve and a half kuli according to the land-register.[19]
(L. 15.) Having received the gold required for making this land free of taxes from the Mangalangilan Velan Malaiginiyaninran, we the great assembly, gave it free of taxes, for as long as the moon and the sun exist.
(L. 16.) The designation which he desires for this land shall be engraved on stone and on copper, and the better half of the leavings of these offerings shall be given to travelers who are Sri-Vaishnavas (and) have not (received it) before.[20]
(L. 17.) Having been present in the assembly, which met without a vacancy in the temple court in the middle of this village, and having heard the order of Purushottama-Bhattan of Aranippuram, I, Manimangalam-udaiyan [A]na[nda]bo[dha]n Velan Sriramadevan, wrote (the above). This (is) my writing.
(L. 18.) To this (witness) I, the carpenter Vaduganadan Tiruvaykkulaman Tondainatt-acharyan, who possesses the better half of the land of the carpenters (tachcba-kani) in the village. This (is) my writing.
(L. 19.) This charity (is placed under) the protection of the Sri-Vaishnavas. Hari !
[1] Ind. Ant. Vol. XIV. P. 55.
[2] Ibid. Vol. XX. P. 282.
[3] See above, p. 73, note 6.
[4] See above, p. 75, note 2.
[5] See ibid, note 3.
[6] This is a synonym of devadana ; see the Index to Vol. I.
[7] Compare above, No. 31, text line 15.
[8] This refers to the 210 kuli purchased from Sahanai Madhava-Bhattan.
[9] Mukkokkilanadi had been the name of the chief queen of Vikrama-Chola ; see above, Vol. II. p. 309.
[10] Ind. Ant. Vol. XX. P. 285.
[11] Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 266.
[12] I.e., he ruled over the whole earth.
[13] This is a village in the Conjeeveram taluka ; see above, Vol. II. p. 345, note 4.
[14] This word is spelt Sahanai in text line 14 below ; see also above, p. 77, note 8.
[15] See above, p. 73, note 6.
[16] See No. 34, text line 6, and No. 30, text line 40.
[17] See above, p. 78 and note 9.
[18] By adding up the preceding amounts, only 611 ½ kuli are arrived at.
[19] The same term (pottagam) occurs in Vol. II. No.22, second tier, text line 4.
[20] The word apurvin is used similarly in Vol. II. No. 25, text line 36.
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No. 36.- On the south wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple
This inscription is dated in the 12th year of the reign of Kulottunga-Choladeva III.[1] on a week-day which, according to Professor Kielhorn’s calculation,[2]corresponds to Monday, the 4th December A.D. 1189. It records that a military officer purchased 600 kuli of land near the village and assigned them to the temple, with the condition that the produce of the land should be applied for providing offerings of boiled rice to the god.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 12th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, who was pleased to take Madurai, Ilam, and the crowned head of the Pandya, - on the day of Chitra, which corresponded to a Monday and to the ninth tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Dhanus.
(L. 2.) the writing of us, the great assembly of Manimangalam, aliasPandiyanai-irumadi-ven-kanda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam.
(L. 4.) With the knowledge of Karambichchettu Kesava-Bhattan, the manager of the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman in our village, and of Arattamukkidasan, the overseer of the Sri-Vaishnavas.
(L. 5.) In order that (the god) Tiruvaykkulattu Emberuman of this temple might receive (every day) an offering of four nali of boiled rice Kannappan Tusi-Adinayagan[3] [Ni]la[ga]ngaraiyan Vanniyanayan, aliasUttamanidi-Kannappan, of Tiruchchuram in Kil-Mangattu-nadu, (a subdivision) of the same district and the same mandalam, purchased for money from the arbitrator Manimangalam-Udaiyan Vanavarisan, Mahajanapriyan and Manimangalam-Udaiyan Sriramadevan 600 kuli of land, (called) Urappondan, aliasAlankarapatti,[4] to the east of the Manaiy-arudi channel[5] at the A[laimedu] (hill) in this village, to the south of the first Kannaru,[6] to the north-east of the Kannikkal (channel), to the north-west of the Tiruvidaiyattam[7] of this Alvar, (and) to the south of the large channel.
(L. 9.) Having received the gold required from the Vanniyanayan, alias Uttamanidi-Kannappar, we, the great assembly, gave these six hundred kuli, free of taxes, to continue as long as the moon and the sun.
(L. 10.) Having been present in the assembly and having heard the order of Donaiya-Bhattan of Aranaippuram, I, the accountant of this village, Adavallan Sivavakyadevan, alias Uttamapriyan, wrote (the above). This (is) my writing.
No. 37.- On the east wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple.
This inscription is dated in the 28th year of the reign of Kulottunga-Choladeva III. and records that the same military officer who is mentioned in the preceding inscription (or a relation of his) deposited with the temple authorities a sum of money, from the interest of which four lamps had to be supplied with fuel.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 28th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, who was pleased to take Madurai and the crowned head of the Pandya, - we two, Arattamikkidasan,[8] the overseer of the Sri-Vaishnavas in (the temple of) Vanduvarapati at Manimangalam in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, and Sridhara-Bhatttan, who holds the feet of the god[9] of the central shrine, received from Kannappan Panchanedi Nilagangaraiyar of Tiruchchuram seven and seven twentieths old kasu, to bear interest from the month of Karttigai of this year.
(L. 10.)In return for (this sum), we, the authorities of the temple, agreed to burn, as long as the moon and the sun exist, four lamps, (viz.) two twilight lamps in the Vanduvarapati (temple), one twilight lamp in the central shrine, and one twilight lamp which (the two temples of) Tiruvaiyotti[10] and Tiruvayappadi have to burn in the Vanduvarapati (temple).
No. 38.- On the outside of the east wall of the inner prakara of the Rajagopala-Perumal temple.
This inscription is dated in the 13th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva (III.?). It registers several payments of money into the temple treasury for feeding lamps in the temple.
Hail ! Prosperity ! In the thirteenth year (of the reign) of Rajarajadeva, - under the supervision of both Arulala-Bhattan of Irayur, the manager of the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman at Manimangalam alias Pandiyanai-irumadiven-konda-Sola-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, and of Vanduvarapati . . . . . . . . . . . . the overseer of the Sri-Vaishnavas in this temple, - (the following sums) were paid on interest into the treasury of the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman, as a fund for burning lamps at evening dawn before this Emberuman : - one kasu by Arlala-Bhattan of Irayur ; one kasu b Mattu[va]li Sirilango-Bhattan ; one kasu by Emberuman-Adiyal [Vi]langavand[a]r of Minjur ; and one and a half kasu, for burning a lamp at evening dawn, by Kannandai Kuppan of Porungunram.
No. 39. – On the east wall of the mandapa in the Rajagopala-Perumal temple.
The subjoined inscription belongs to the 18th year of the reign of Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva. This king is probably identical with Rajaraja III., who is known to have ascended the throne about A.D. 1216 and seems to have been the immediate successor of Kulottunga-Chola III.[11] In this case the week-day on which the inscription is dated will admit of astronomical calculation. The inscription records that a flight of stone steps leading to mandapa was built at the expense of two brothers.
Hail ! Prosperity ! With the approval of the god,[12] - in the 18th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Rajarajadeva, on the day of Dhanishtha, which corresponded to a Wednesday and to the fifth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Dhanus, - Brahmapriyan, the eldest son of Manimangalam-udaiyan Panchanedi Lakshmanan Malaiginiyaninran,[13] and his younger brother Ahavamalladevan paid the gold required for, and caused to be made the stone work of, a flight of steps, with tiger’s heads at the bottom, for the Abhissheka-mandapa in the temple of Vanduvarapati-Emberuman at Manimangalam, aliasGramasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Puliyur-kottam, aliasKulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam. (It is) their charitable gift.
[1] See page 43 above.
[2] Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 220.
[3] I.e. ‘the chief leader of the van-guard.’
[4] I.e., ‘the patti of Urappondan, alias Alankaran.’ On patti see above, Vol. II. p. 359, note 12. Urappondan occurs as a proper name in No. 31, text line 11, and Alankaran in NO. 29, text line 24.
[5] See above, p. 78 and note 6.
[6] See above, p. 73, note 6.
[7] See above, p. 78, note 8.
[8] This name is spelled Arattamukkidasan, in Nos. 35 and 36.
[9] I.e., who is one of the men who carry the idol on procession days.
[10] This temple is probably identical with Tiruvaiyottidevar in No. 28, text line 11.
[11] See page 43 above.
[12] Literally, ‘the hearing of the holy voice having preceded.’
[13] The same name is borne by a different person in No. 35 above.
This inscription consists of a single Sanskrit verse in the Indravajra metre and of a passage in Tamil prose. It is dated on a week-day (1. 3) which will probably admit of calculation, in the 18th year of the reign of Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva, and records the gift of two lamps to the image of Vishnu, and to an image of Narasimha which was set up in the same temple.
Hail ! Prosperity ! (Verse 1.) Srikrishna-Suri, a treasury of the scriptures (Agama), the full-moon of the ocean (which is) the Vadhula-gotra, gave a pair of lamps to the highest primal being (Vishnu) who resides at Ratnagrahara.[1]
(Line 2.) In the 18th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Rajarajadeva, on the day of Sravana, which correspond to a Monday and to the first tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Makara, - we two, Srirama-Bhattan, who performs the worship in the temple of Mannanar (Vishnu) at Manimangalam alias Gramasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam, and his younger brother Virrirundan Bhattan, received two kalanju of pure gold from Srikrishna-Bhattan,[2] who performs the worship in the temple of Mannanar (Vishnu) at Manimangalam alias Gramasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam, and his younger brother Virrirundan Bhattan, received two kalanju of pure gold from Srikrihsna-Bhatta[3] . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . of Kundur, (a resident) of this village.
(L. 6.) We two have caused to be engraved on stone that, (in return) for these two kalanju of pure gold, we shall have to burn, as long as the moon and the sun exist, one sacred lamp in the morning before the god Mannanar, and one sacred lamp in the evening before the god Singa-Perumal who is pleased to reside in the same temple.
No. 41.- On the east wall of the Dharmesvara temple
Like No. 40, this inscription is dated on a week-day which will probably admit of calculation, in the 18thyear of the reign of Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva. It records that the same two brothers, who are mentioned in No. 39 above, paid to the authorities of the Dharmesvaa temple two kalanju of gold, from the interest of which the cost of feeding two lamps had to be defrayed.
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! With the approval of the god, - in the 18th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Rajarajadeva, on the day of Revati, which corresponded to a Tuesday and to the second tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Simha, - we, all the holders of the land (kani) of the Siva-Brahmanas of the temple of the lord Tanmisvara at Manimangalam, alias Gramasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam, in Kunrattur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Puliyur-kottam, alias Kulottunga-Sola-valanadu, (a district) of Jayankonda-Sola-mandalam, (viz.,) Gautaman Ambalakkutta-Bhattan, KasyappanGangadhara-Bhattan, and the partners[4] of Kasyapan Truchchirrambala-Bhattan, received on interest from Brahmapriyan, the eldest son of Panchanadi Lakshmanan Malaiginiyaninran, the accountant of this village, and his younger brother Ahavamalladevan 2 kalanju of pure gold (under the condition) that we should burn at early dawn from this day two sacred lamps which (those two persons) had given (to the temple).
(L. 8.) We, all these persons, caused to be engraved on stone that, having received these two kalanju of gold, we shall be bound to burn (those two lamps) as long as the moon and the sun exist.
(L. 9.) This was written under order by Manimangalam-udaiyan Alumbiran.
[1] I.e., Manimangalam ; compare No. 27, verse 1.
[2] The same person was called Srikrishna-Suri in verse 1.
[3] The same person was called Srikrishna-Sura in verse 1.
[4] See above, p. 6, note 1
VIII.- Inscriptions of Virarajendra I
t Raja kesarivarman aliasVirarajendradeva I., the victory at Kudalsangamam, must have reigned in the period intervening between the reigns of Rajendradeva and of Kulottunga I.,[1] and that, apparently, his immediate predecessor was Rajakesarivarmanalias Rajamahendradeva,[2] and his immediate successor Parakesarivarman alias Adhirajendradeva.[3] Since then, Professor Kielhorn’s calculations of the dates of an inscription at Belaturu[4] and of another at Manimangalam (No. 29 above) have established the fact that Rajendradeva ascended the throne (approximately) on the 28th May A.D. 1052,[5] while the reign of Kulottunga I. commenced (approximately) on the 9th June A.D. 1070.[6] Further, Professor Kielhorn has shown that the date of the Manimangalam inscription of the 5th year of Virarajendra I. (No. 30 above) probably corresponds to Monday, the 10th September A.D. 1067, and that, consequently, this king ascended the throne in A.D. 1062-63.[7]
That Rajamahendra reigned between Rajendradeva and Kulottunga I., may be concluded from an Alangudi inscription of the 6th year of Parakesarivarman alias Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva (II.),[8] which quotes successively the three following earlier dates : -
(a) Line 22. – “the third year of the lord Vijaya-Rajendradeva, who was pleased to conquer Kalyanapuram and Kollapuram and to fall asleep (i.e., to die[9] in battle) on an elephant.” This statement must refer to Parakesarivarman alias Rajendradeva, who is known to have set up a pillar of victory at Kollapuram.[10]
(b) L. 55.- “the third year of king Rajakesarivarman (alias) the lord Sri-Rajamahendradeva, who, while the law of Manu[11] flourished (as) of old, rescued the great earth from being the common property (of other kings), dispelled (with his) sceptre the dark Kali (age), and was pleased to be seated on the throne of heroes under the shade of a red parasol.”
© L. 63.- “the thirty-fifth year of the glorious Kulottunga-Choladeva, who was pleased to rule after having abolished tolls.” This refers to Kulottunga I., who bore the surname Sungandavirtton,[12] i.e., ‘the abolisher of tolls.’
A lately discovered inscription of the 3rd year of “king Rajakesarivarman alias the lord Sri-Rajamahaendradeva” at Tirupapuliyur (No. 119 of 1902) opens with a short historical introduction, at the beginning of which it is stated that the king “by a war-elephant caused Ahavamalla to turn his back on (the bank of) the winding river." The mention of Ahavamalla as an opponent of Rajamahendra corroborates the conclusion derived fro the Alangudi inscription of Rajaraja II., that Rajamahendra must have reigned in the period between Rajendradeva and Kulottunga I. Among the kings who ruled in this interval according to the Vikkirama-Solan-Ula, there are only two whose identification is not self-evident, viz., the predecessor and the successor of Virarajendra I.[13] Consequently, Rajamahendra, the enemy of Ahavamalla, must be identical with the unnamed king who is alluded to in the Kalingattu-Parani and the Vikkirama-Solan-Ula as the predecessor of Virarajendra I. The subjoined table shows the reigns of Rajendradeva and his successors according to the present state of our knowledge.
Name of king | Date of accession | Latest known date |
Rajendradeva[14] Parakesarivarman | 28th May A.D. 1052 | 12th year.[15] |
Rajamahendra Rajakesarivarman | …. | 3rd year. |
Virarajendra I. Rajakesarivarman[16] | A.D. 1062-63 | 8th year.[17] |
Adhirajendra Parakesarivarman | …. | 3rd year. |
Kulottunga I. Rajakesarivarman[18] | 9th June A.D. 1070 | 49th year. |
If the years given in the third column are added to the initial dates preceding them in the second column, it becomes evident that the reigns of these kings must have overlapped each other. The same had been the case with their predecessor Rajaraja I., Rajendra-Chola I. and Rajadhiraja I. As regards Rajamahendra, his reign seems to be covered altogether by those Rajendradeva and Virarajendra I. Perhaps he was a son and temporary co-regent of Rajendradeva. This was suggested already by an inscription of the 9th year of Rajendradeva, which mentions among the boundaries of a village ‘the road of Rajamahendra.’[19] A further confirmation is furnished by the fact that his successor Virarajendra I. adopted the surname Rajakesarivarman. If this king had recognized Rajamahendra Rajakesarivarman as his right predecessor, he would, in accordance with all precedents, have assumed the title Parakesarivarman.
I subjoin a list of the inscriptions of Virarajendra I. which have been copied up to date.
I. Inscriptions opening with the words thiru valara.
2nd year : Tiruvengadu, No. 113a of 1896.
4th year : Karuvur, No. 20 above.
Date lost : Kadambarkoyil, No. 226 of 1901.
Undated : takkolam, No. 19 of 1897.
5th year : Manimangalam, No. 30 above.
5th year : Gangaikondacholapuram, No. 82a of 1892.
II. Inscriptions opening with the words Viramey thunnaiyagavum.
2nd year : Tiruvengadu, No. 113b of 1896.[20]
4th year : Tirunamanallur, No. 81 below.
4th year : Tenneri, No. 198 of 1901.
5th year : Uyyakkondan-Tirumalai, No. 98 of 1892.
5th year : Tirupapuliyur, No. 132 of 1902.
5th year : Tirupapuliyur, No. 133 of 1902.
5th year : Kilur, No. 82 below.
5th year : Vinnamangalam, No. 22 of 1899.
5th year : Achcharapakkam, No. 253 of 1901.
5th year : Seyyur, No. 430 of 1902.
5th : Gangaikondacholapuram, No. 82b of 1892.[21]
6th year : Tindivanam, No. 83 below.
6th year : Tiruvallam, No. 16 of 1890.
7th year : Perumber, No. 84 below.
7th year : Kilur, No. 259 of 1902.
7th year : Tirukkalukkunram, No. 175 of 1894.
The earliest form of the longer historical introduction, which opens with thiru valara, is found in an inscription of the 2nd year at Tiruvengadu.[22] Three battles with the Chalukyas are referred to : - (1) Vikramaditya VI. Was driven from Gangapadi over the Tungabhadra ; (2) an army which he had sent into Vengai-nadu was defeated ; and (3) Ahavamalla with his two sons Vikramaditya VI. And Jayasimha III. was put to flight at Kudalsangamam. The Karuvur inscription of the 4th year (No. 20 above, 1. 9 f.) adds that Virarajendra I. killed the king of Pottappi, the Kerala, the Pandya and others. The Manimangalaminscription of the 5th year (No. 30 above)notices further victories over the Keralas, Chalukyas and Pandyas ; a battle which had been appointed on the bank of an unspecified river ; the burning of Rattapadi and the planting of a pillar of victory on the Tungabhadra ; the appointment (of Vikramaditya VI.) as heir-apparent of the Chalukya king (Ahavamalla) ; the conquest of Vengai-nadu, Kalingam and Chakra-kottam ; and the bestowal of Vengai-nadu on Vijayaditya VII.[23]
Of the shorter historical introduction, which opens with Viramey thunnaiyagavum, I publish below four different redactions. Several inscriptions of the 2nd to 5th years[24] state that Virarajendra I. defeated Ahavamalla and (his two sons) Vikramaditya VI. And Jayasimha III. at Kudalsangamam and seized Ahavamalla’s queen, treasures and vehicles. This brief statement corresponds to the long description of the battle at Kudalsangamam, which appears first in the Tiruvengadu inscription of the 2nd year,[25] and a translation of which was given from the Karuvur inscription on page 37 above. In perfect accordance with the longer redaction of the introduction, in which the battle of Kudalsangamam is stated to have been the third encounter with the Chalukyas, the Tirunamanallur inscription of the 4th year (No. 81 below, 1. 2) attributes to Virarajendra I. the biruda ‘who saw the back of Ahavamalla three times.’
No. 82 below and four other inscriptions of the 5th year[26] add that Virarajendra I. “terrified Ahavamalla yet a second time on the appointed battle-field, fulfilled the vow of his own elder brother, and seized Vengai-nadu.” The ‘battle which had been appointed near the river’ and the conquest of Vengai-nadu are referred to also in the Manimangalaminscription of the 5th year.[27] The elder brother, who is mentioned in No. 82 below, is perhaps, identical with Alavandan, surnamed Rajaraja or Rajadhiraja.[28] The vow which he is said to have made seems to have had the conquest of Vengi for its object. As Virarajendra I. undertook the fulfillment of this vow of his elder brother, it may be concluded that the latter died between the 4th and 5th years, the dates of No. 20 above and No. 82 below.
In two inscriptions of the 6th year,[29] several fresh details are recorded. ‘On a third occasion,’ i.e., at the next opportunity after the two encounters at Kudalsangamam and near the river, Virarajendra I. “burnt (the city of) Kampili[30] before Somesvara could untie the necklace which (he) had put on, and set up a pillar of victory at Karadikal.” In the Manimangalam inscription of the 5th year (1. 25 f.), the same expedition is referred to by the statement that Virarajendra I. conquered Rattapadi, “kindled crackling fires,” and set up a pillar of victory on the bank of the Tungabhadra. Kampili is the modern Kampli, a town on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra in the Hospet taluka of the Bellary district. Karadikal, the site of the pillar of victory, must be looked for in the same neighbourhood perhaps on the opposite bank of the Tungabhadra, which is included in the Nizam’s Dominions.[31] The Somesvara from whom Kampili was taken can be no other than Somesvara II., the eldest son of Ahavamalla andelder brother of Vikramaditya VI. And Jayasimha III. The necklace which he is stated to have worn is the well-known emblem of the dignity of Yuvaraja, and we know from the Vikramankadevacharita (iii. 55 and 59) that Ahavamalla actually appointed Somesvara II. his heir-apparent. As No. 83 below implies that Somesvara II. was still heir-apparent in the 6th year of Virarajendra I., it follows that at this time Ahavamalla was still alive. Finallly, Virarajendra I. is stated to have expelled devanatha and other chiefs from Chakra-kottam and to have ‘recovered’ Kanyakubja, i.e., Kanauj. Both Devanatha and the expedition into Chakra-kottam are referred to in the Manimangalam inscription of the 5th year.[32]
The introduction of the inscriptions of the 7th year[33] differs considerably from that of the preceding years. It first states that Virarajendra I. defeated the Pandya, Chera and Simhala kins, but does not mention their names. Ahavamalla is said to have been put to flight in battle five times. As the earlier inscriptions show, these five occasions were :- (1) the battle on the Tungabhadra in Gangapadi; (2) the first expedition into Vengai-nadu; (3) the battle at Kudalsangamam ; (4) the battle near the river ; and (5) the burning of Kampili. No. 84 below next mentions the reconquest of Vengai-nadu, which, according to No. 83 below, fell between the fourth and fifth encounters with Ahavamalla. According toManimangalamManimangalam inscription of the 5th year.[35] As I hae shown since this inscription was published, the Eastern Chalukya Vijayaditya VII. Is meant here.[36] No. 84 below then asserts that Virarajendra I. conquered the country of Kadaram. In Vol. II. p. 106, Kadaram was wrongly identified with a place I the Madura district. The fact that Rajendra-Chola I. dispatched an expedition to it on shipa by sea, suggests that it was situated out of the Indian peninsula. Of the numerous places which are mentioned in connection with this expedition, Mr. Venkayya has identified two, viz., Nakkavaram and Pappalam.[37] The former is the Tamil name of the Nicobar Islands, and according to the Mahavamsa (1xxvi. 63) Papphala was a port in Ramanna,[38] i.e., the Talaing country of Burma.[39] Hence Kadram will have to be looked for in Farther India. Finally, Virarajendra I. drove Somesvara II. out of the Kannara country, invested (his younger brother) Vikramaditya VI. With the necklace – the emblem of the dignity of heir-apparent – and made Rattapadi over to him. The same transaction is alluded to in the Manimangalam inscription of the 5th year (II. 26 to 28) by the statement that Virarajendra I. tied the necklace on ‘the liar’s’ neck and appointed him to the dignity of Vallabha or Chalukya. A comparison of the inscriptions of the 6th year[40] suggests that the necklace bestowed on Vikramaditya VI. Was taken away from his elder brother Somesvara II., and that Virarajendra I. appointed the former as heir-apparent of Ahavamalla in the place of the second.
Two inscriptions of the 7th year[41] contain a short panegyrical passage, which does not form part of the historical introduction, but occurs at the beginning of the grant portion, and which glorifies Virarajendra I. for having put the Chalukya or Ratta king to flight in a battle which had been appointed ‘on (the bank of) the winding river.’[42] This statement refers to the fourth encounter with Ahavamalla, which took place between the battle at Kudalsangamam and the burning of Kampili.
The Tirunamanallur inscription of the 4th year (No. 81 below) attributes to Virarajendra I. a long string of titles, the three first of which – Sakalabhuvanasraya, Srimedinivallabha and Maharajadhiraja – must have been taken over from his Western Chalukya enemies. Another, Rajasraya, had been borne by his ancestor Rajaraja I.[43] The next two surnames, Vira-Chola and Karikala-Chola, suggest that Virarajendra I. may have been one of the younger brothers of Rajendradeva ; for, the latter is stated to have conferred the title Karikala-Chola on his younger brother Vira-Chola.[44] If Virarajendra I. really was a younger brother of Rajendradeva, he would also have been a younger brother of Rajadhiraja I., who was the elder brother of Rajendradeva.[45] In a mutilated inscription of his 5th year at Gangaikondacholapuram (No. 82b of 1892), Viraajendra I. quotes “the twenty-third year of (my) father, who was pleased to conquer the Eastern country, the Ganga and Kadram.” This can refer to no other of his predecessors but Rajendra-Chola I., whose conquests are summed up in the same words in an inscription at Sutturur,[46] and who bore the surname Gangaikonda-Chola.[47] Consequently, Virarajendra I. and his two elder brothers Rajendradeva and Rajadhiraja I. seem to have been the sons of Rajendra-Chola I. I do not consider this result as absolutely final, because the South-Indian languages employ the words of relationship in a very loose manner. Thus the word ‘younger brother’ (lambi) in No. 29 above (1. 2) might also mean ‘a cousin,’ and the word ‘father’ (aiyar) in No. 82b of 1892 might designate ‘an elder brother.’ If it is granted that Virarajendra I. was the son of Rajendra-Chola I., it would follow that the story of the adoption of Kulottunga I. by the latter[48] is a pure invention, which was started for political reasons in order to give an apparent locus standi to this usurper. With the help of the fresh materials which are now available, I venture to publish a revised pedigree of the earlier Cholas, in which I have included the pedigree given in Vol. I. p. 112, and the details supplied by the Teki plates of Chodaganga.[49] The figures in brackets after the names of kings denote the year of accession of the throne.
Pedigree of the Chola Dynasty.
The Tanjore inscription of Kulottunga I. supplies the name of Arumoli-Nangai, the queen of Virarajendra I.[50] As I have shown elsewhere,[51] his daughter was given in marriage to the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI. ‘ his son and successor was Parakesarivarman alias Adhirajendradeva ; and the latter was succeeded by RajendraChola II. alias Kulottunga-Chola II. alias Kulottunga-Chola I.
Dr. Burnell was the first to draw attention to the Tamil grammar Virasoliyam by Buddhamitra and to its commentary, which was written by Perundevanar, a pupil of the author, and which quotes a large number of Tamil works.[52] Both the grammar and its commentary have been edited by the late C. W. Damodaram Pillai in 1895. In the Annual Report for 1898-99 (p. 18), Mr. Venkayya remarks on this work as follows : - “The text (p. 6) refers to a Chola king Virarajendra as the author’s patron. In the commentary, which was admittedly written by a pupil of the author himself, the first few words of the historical introduction of the inscriptions of Rajendra-Chola I. are quoted as an illustration of a particular kind of metre. The battle of Koppam[53] is mentioned in a verse cited as an illustration of another kind of metre (p. 141), and that of Kudalsangamam in another quoted as an illustration of a figure of rhetoric (p. 196). These references prove that the commentary at least could not have been composed before the time of Virarajendra I., who fought the battle of Kudalsangamam. As Virarajendra is mentioned in the text of the work as the author’s sovereign, and as the commentary, in which the battle of Kudalsangamam and no later historical event is mentioned, was written by the author’s own pupil, the most natural inference is that the work itself was written during the time of Virarajendra I., who fought the battle of Kudalsangamam.” To this maynow be added that Vira-Chola is mentioned as a surname of Virarajendra I. in No. 81 below, and that the Virasoliyam owes its title to this surname. Mr. Venkayya continues : - “ Malaikkurram is mentioned in the commentary to the Virasoliyam (p. 196) as the district in which Ponparri, the native village of the author, was situated. Dr. Burnell identified this district with the Malakuta (Mo-lo-kiu-ch’a) of Hiuen-Tsiang, which he located in the delta of the Kaveri.[54] But as Buddhamitra, the author of the Virasoliyam, was, according to its commentary, the lord of Tondi, a sea-port in the Madura district, his native village of Ponparri has probably to be looked for in the Pandya country and has perhaps to be identified with ‘Ponpetti,’ about 10 miles south-west of Manamelkudi (in the Pattukkottai taluka) which, in ancient times, was also included was also included in the Pandya kingdom.”
[1] See p. 32 above.
[2] See p. 113 above.
[3] See above, p. 114 f.
[4] This important record was first published by Mr. Rice, and again by Dr. Kittel in Ep. Ind. Vol. VI. P. 213 ff.
[5] Ep. Ind. Vol. VI. P. 24.
[6] Ep. Ind. Vol. VII. P. 7, note 5.
[7] Ibid. p. 9.
[8] No. 5 of 1899. This inscription opens with the same historical introduction as No. 35 above.
[9] Compare above, p. 24 and note 1.
[10] See above, Vol. II. p. 303, and Vol. III. p. 111.
[11] Compare the Kalingattu-Parani (viii. 28) and No. 56 above (p. 113).
[12] See above, pp. 131 and 180.
[13] See p. 32 above.
[14] Rajendra-Choladeva in No. 22 above, and in No. 21 of 1899.
[15] According to Professor Kielhorn, this is perhaps a mistake for the 11th year ; see Ep. Ind. Vol. VI. P. 24.
[16] Parakesarivarman in No. 259 of 1902.
[17] See above, p. 191 and note 10.
[18] Parakesarivarman in No. 268 of 1901 and No. 425 of 1902.
[19] Above, p. 113 and note 6.
[20] This inscription is engraved in continuation of No. 113a of 1896 (No. 1 of clause I.) and is dated, like the latter, on the 233rd day of the 2nd year.
[21] This inscription is engraved in continuation of No. 82a of 1892 (No. 6 of clause I.) and contains three incomplete copies of the shorter introduction, the second of which is dated on the 270th day of the 5thyear, when the king was staying in his palace at Kanchipuram.
[22] No. 1 of clause I.
[23] See now above, p. 128 and note 9.
[24] Nos. 1 to 6 of clause II.
[25] No. 1 of clause I. on p. 192 above.
[26] Nos. 8 to 11 on this page.
[27] See the translation on pp. 68 and 69 above.
[28] See above, p. 36 and note 10.
[29] No. 83 below, and No. 13 of the list on p. 193 above.
[30] Rajadhiraja I. claims to have destroyed the palace of the Chalukya king in the city of Kampili ; see p. 57 above.
[31] The Postal Directory of the Madras Circle (p. 544) mentions a village named ‘Karadikallu.’ Near Nittur in the Gubbi taluka of the Tumkur district. This village cannot be meant here, because it is too far south from Kampli.
[32] Above, No. 30, II. 25 and 29.
[33] No. 84 below, and Nos. 15 and 16 on p. 193 above.
[34] See below, p. 202, note 6.
[35] Above, No. 30, line 30 f.
[36] Above, pp. 128 and 132.
[37] Above, Vol. II. p. 109, ‘the great Pappalam’ and ‘the great Nakkavaram’ must be read instead of Mappappalam’ and ‘Manakkavaram.’
[38] See Mr. Venkayya’s Annual Report for 1898-99, p. 17.
[39] See Ind. Ant. Vol. XXI. P. 377, and Vol. XXII. P. 327.
[40] See below, p. 201 and note 10.
[41] See below, p. 204 and note 4.
[42] Rajamahendra also claims to have put Ahavamalla to flight ‘on (the bank of) the winding river;’ see above, p. 191 and note 8.
[43] See above, Vol. II. p. 260 and note 5.
[44] See page 62 above.
[45] See page 39 above.
[46] Ep. Ind. Vol. IV. P. 69.
[47] See page 127 above.
[48] See page 127 above.
[49] Ep. Ind. Vol. VI. P. 335. The name of Kundavai, the younger sister of Kulottunga I., is taken from an inscription at Chidambaram ; ibid. Vol. V. p. 105. That Rajaraja II. was the son of Kulottunga II., appears from Mr. Venkayya’s MS. Copy of the Rajarajan-Ula.
[50] Above, Vol. II. p. 232. Most of the inscriptions of Virarajendra I. mention his queen by her title target="_self" Ulagamulududaiyal, i.e., ‘the mistress of the whole world,’ and state that she was seated with him on the throne.
[51] See page 129 above.
[52] South Indian Palaeography, second edition, p. 127, note 2.
[53] See page 58 above.
[54] Ind. Ant. Vol. VII. P. 39 f. I have shown that this location is based on nothing nut a misreading of certain inscriptions at Tanjore ; see ibid. Vol. XVIII. P. 239 f. and above, Vol. II pp. 74, 95, 229 and 327.
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No. 67. Inscription at Somangalam
This inscription (No. 182 of 1901) is engraved on three walls of Sanndararaja-Peruaml temple at Somangalam,[21] a village north of Manimangalam in the Chingleput district. The ancient name of the temple was Chitrakuta (1. 3). Like Manimangalam,[22] Somangalam belonged to Maganur-nadu, a subdivision of the district of Sengattu-kottam (1. 2 f.).
The inscription is dated in the 3rd year of Rajendra-Chola II. The introduction agrees with that of the inscriptions of his 2nd year (Nos. 64 to 66 above), but adds a reference to his queen, without mentioning her name.
Hail ! Prosperity ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [23] In the 3rd year (of the reign) of king Rajakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Rajendra-Soladeva, who was pleased to take his seat on the throne of heroes together with (his queen), the mistress of the whole world, - we, the great assembly of Somangalam, alias Rajasikhamani-chaturvedimangalam, in Maganur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Sengattu-kottam, (a district) of Jayangonda-Sola-mandalam, drew up the following writing one stone, to last as long as the moon, in favour of the lord of the holy Chitrakuta (temple) in our village.